Two Years Later.

The afternoon of March 13, 2020 is crystal clear and a blur at the same time. It was a Friday afternoon and educators in Tuscaloosa County were excited about finishing the day and heading out for spring break……except an announcement came that changed everyone’s plans.

Little did we know that Friday afternoon that school would not actually resume until August of 2020 and that we would become very acquainted with technology to help us stay connected to our students, friends, and families. COVID-19 was here.

Masks.

Lysol/Clorox wipes.

Social distancing.

Fear.

Shortages.

Loss.

Quarantining.

All of the sudden, a handful of words rose to the top of our “most used” list and life, as we knew it that Friday would forever be changed.

Over the past two years, we’ve been on a roller coaster that has yet to end. There have been some small upward peaks and some very significant – and scary – drops. The question I ponder two years in is this…..what have we learned?

For a period of time, we valued the “heroes” who were first responders showing up for work every day to keep us safe and well in the midst of a pandemic. Walk into a hospital now. Is it still the same?

For a period of time, we learned the value of relationship and reached out to friends and loved ones when we didn’t know when we could see them again. How about now?

For a period of time, we returned to an emphasis of prayer….acknowledging our inability to “fix” the problem and our need to desperately cry out to God and ask for His involvement in changing the circumstances. How about now?

Years ago, our church was hosting a sermon series called “At the Movies.” That year, September 11 actually fell on a Sunday and we watched/learned from the movie “Flight 93.” One of the quotes that stood out to me the most and sticks with me today is this: “Crisis is a great editor.”

Crisis can quickly “burn away the chaff.” It can easily reveal what should get your time and attention and what should take a backseat. It can easily reveal what’s in your heart – even if that doesn’t align with your words.

My question for me – and maybe for you, if you’ll entertain it – is…..what have I learned? How has this two-year journey shaped me and changed me for the good? And maybe the not-so-good?

Today is a great time to reflect. Help us, Lord, not miss it. Help us not return to the less important things at the sake of the most important things. There’s been too much loss to forget what we need to have remembered.